Discipleship 15

Lazarus Come Out

This morning we are looking at the seventh sign that John records. In keeping with the series on discipleship we see a progression of Jesus’ miracles from turning water into wine, healing a cripple, feeding 5000 men, giving sight to a blind man. All miraculous signs. We have also looked at the I AM statements; the bread of life, the light of the world, and the good shepherd. This 7th sign is the raising of Lazarus from the dead and the I AM the resurrection and the life statement.

I wanted to read the whole passage of scripture because I think it helps us to understand all of the things taking place. John identifies the characters as Jesus’ friends, sisters Martha and Mary, and their brother Lazarus. It is interesting that John identifies Mary as the one who anointed Jesus with the costly oil and then dried his feet with her hair. John does not record this incident until chapter 12.

Lazarus became ill and his sisters sent for Jesus saying “he whom you love is ill.” They didn’t say come as soon as you can, but left it up to Jesus to determine how he would respond. When Jesus heard the message he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Jesus knew what he was going to do and why he was going to do it. Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. They were his friends, he would often stay at their home when he was in the area. He did not go to them right away, but waited 2 days before he set out for Judea.

When he announced to his disciples that he was going to Judea, they questioned him because of the threats to his life by the Jews who wanted to stone him. Jesus replied that there are 12 hours of daylight in which to work. Anyone walking in the night might stumble. This could be a reference to himself as the light of the world. He could move about working miracles as long as he was present.

An interesting side note is that it was common in that time to divide the daylight into 12 equal parts so an hour might not be consistent throughout the year, it might be longer in the summer and shorter in the winter. they probably had not heard of daylight savings time, but they were still messing with their sundials. I have people tell me that they are still having trouble adopting to the time change.

Jesus said to his disciples that Lazarus was asleep and that he was going to waken him. His disciples thinking of natural sleep thought that his sleep was a good sign indicating that he might recover. Jesus told them plainly that Lazarus had died and that it was a good thing for his disciple that he was not there so that they might believe.

I am sure that the disciples questioned why they were risking their lives going back to Judea if Lazarus was already dead. Interestingly Thomas was the one who said; “Let us go also so that we may die with him.” Thomas was the one who doubted. Jesus’ resurrection.

Jesus traveled to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ home in Bethany about 2 miles from Jerusalem. Because it was so close to Jerusalem many of the Jews had gathered there in support of the sisters. It was a common practice in that climate to bury the dead as soon as possible. The body would be washed and wrapped in linen strips, binding in spices to keep down oder. A separate cloth would cover the face. Family and friends would mourn for 3 days. It was a common practice to hire professional mourners to come and keep up a constant wail. There was also a theory that the soul of the deceased might linger in hope that it could return to the body, but would give up after 3 days. One of the dangers of rapid burial was that there was that sometimes a person might be buried while still alive. Any hope of that would pass after 3 days.

Martha went out to meet Jesus when she heard that he was coming. “Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died.” What a greeting, depending on how she said it, it might be construed as a guilt trip. Jesus replied that Lazarus would rise again. Martha took this to mean the resurrection on the last day. Jesus, however, makes the statement; “I AM the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me shall never die.” He then asks her if she believes this and she replied, I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God. this is an important statement of faith. She knows who Jesus is.

Martha then went and told Mary, “the teacher is here.” Mary got up quickly and went to him. Those who had gathered to console her followed thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep. When she saw Jesus she fell at his feet, weeping, and said the same thing as Martha; “if you had been here my brother would not have died.” The sisters were aware of the miracles that Jesus had performed and had no doubt that Jesus would have healed him. Jesus was deeply moved and wept.

Jesus asked where they had laid him and they said come and see. While this was taking place the criticism began. He opened the eyes of the blind man couldn’t he have kept this man from dying? We know that he healed the Roman centurion’s son just be saying your son lives. Interesting that Jesus was criticized for healing and now for not healing.

I want to note that we still ask similar questions today. Why are some healed and not other? Why did God allow the fire in the apartments in Lancaster last week? why did God allow that terrible hurricane that did so much damage in North Carolina, Florida, and other southern states? Is it so that God might be glorified by positive things that resulted?

Jesus went to the tomb and told them to take away the stone. Martha protested, he has been dead for 4 days there will be an oder. I like the way that the KJV states; “He stinketh.” Jesus replied, “did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God. “Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing here that they might believe that you sent me.” Jesus called out in a loud voice; “Lazarus come out.” He did, his hands and feet were bound with linen strips and his face was wrapped with a cloth. I tried to picture this in my mind. His hands and feet were bound. Would this have been wrapped around his body like a mummy? If so, he would have had to hop in order to move.

We know that Lazarus had been ill before he died. We know that he had been bound for burial. We know that he had been sealed in the tomb for 4 days. This was not a resuscitation, it was a resurrection. Many critiques of Jesus’ other miracles tried to explain them as coincidences not miracles. When he raised the girl Tabitha from the dead. This was after 4 days it was a resurrection there could be no argument. After seeing this many of the Jews believed in Jesus.

There is a story about an unbeliever who was arguing that this miracle was staged. When Jesus called Lazarus by name it was a stage cue the signal for him to come out. the person to whom he was expounding replied that Jesus had to call Lazarus by name, if he had just said come out, all the people in the whole cemetery would have come out.

In this scripture we know the Who; Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Jesus and his disciples. We know Where; Bethany near Jerusalem. We know When; 4 days after Lazarus was buried. We know the Why, That God would be glorified. We know How; By the Word of Jesus. I AM the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me though he die, yet shall he live.

Jesus could have arranged to be in Bethany when Lazarus became ill. Jesus could have just spoken the word and Lazarus could have been healed without Jesus going to Bethany. Everything was planned to bring glory to God, and that Jesus would be recognized as the Son of God. This was a miraculous sign and also showed the Power of Jesus when he said “I AM the resurrection and the life. The second part. “He who believes in me though he die, yet shall he live.” Is a definite promise for us today. Have you made that commitment to believe that Jesus is the son of God? If not do it today.